Roche regains pre-pandemic sales footing, highlights bursting pipeline — with one key failure

While many pharma fortunes are tied to Covid-19 pandemic peaks and valleys, Roche’s connections are more complicated than most, born out in its 2021 financial reporting.

On one hand, its always top-of-mind diagnostics business, bolstered by antigen and PCR testing, saw soaring sales, up 29% to CHF $17.76 billion ($19.3B) in 2021. On the other hand, its pharma business — while beginning to rebound by year’s end with growth 2% higher than analyst expectations in Q4 — moved up just 3% in 2021 ending with sales of CHF $45.04 billion ($49 billion).